The Sights of Las Vegas

Ten "Must Do" Attractions in Las Vegas

Adapated from an article that appeared on vegas.com

We get it, it’s Vegas. The land of so much to do and so little time to do it in. Everywhere you turn, there’s going to be something bright and shiny that grabs your attention. We know how many distractions there are, so we’ve gone ahead and waded through the tourist traps so you don’t have to. Here are 10 Las Vegas must dos you don’t want to miss:

SNAP A PIC AT THE WORLD-FAMOUS "WELCOME" SIGN

Created in 1959, the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign is an iconic symbol of Sin City. People once risked their lives running through traffic to pose next to the famous sign, located on the Strip near Mandalay Bay. Thankfully, a small parking lot was built next to it in 2008, transforming the sign into a tourist trap instead of a death trap. Oh, and it’s free.

EAT FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD

Las Vegas is a foodie’s died-and-gone-to-heaven-dream-come-true, so bite the bullet and see what all the fuss is about. Book a fancy-schmancy dinner in one of our restaurants that are a lineup of who’s who in celebrity chefs. There are so many, it’s like reading their names out of a celebrity phone book: Andrés, Batali, De Laurentiis, Fieri, Gagnaire, Mina, Puck, Ramsay, Robuchon, Savoy – you get the picture, now make the reservation.

JUMP OFF THE STRATOSPHERE

Conquer your fear of heights and your fear of falling while earning a ton of street cred on SkyJump Las Vegas at the Stratosphere. After suiting up in a branded jumpsuit and harness, you will ride an elevator to Level 108 of the tallest building west of the Mississippi, then step off a platform 855 feet above the Las Vegas Strip on this controlled free fall.

ENJOY A SUNSET GONDOLA RIDE
When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie…oh sorry, don’t mind us. We’re just floating along, lost in the moonlight, enjoying an Italian serenade. Venice/Vegas same thing, right? OK maybe not. But where else can you see the glittery lights of the Las Vegas Strip in a boat? You’ve got to take a gondola ride at the Venetian at least once.

WATCH THE BELLAGIO FOUNTAINS
One of the flagship attractions in Vegas, it’s a crazy awesome fountain show perfectly timed to 30 different songs from the Rat Pack to Celine Dion, and everyone in between. For the first time in history, the Bellagio has even added an EDM show created by DJ powerhouse Tiësto. Have you ever seen 1,214 water jets pulsate 460 feet into the air to untz untz untz? Neither has anyone else! If you really want a bird’s-eye view of the Bellagio Fountain show, get yourself a pair of tickets to the top of the Eiffel Tower. You won’t be able to hear the music from the observation deck but the view is out-of-this-world.

TAKE IN A SHOW
It’s no secret that Vegas has world-class entertainment. But you really haven’t experienced all that we have to offer until you’ve seen one of our shows. We’ve got what you want – from mind-boggling acrobats to big name entertainers and even a whole lot of nakedness (probably from both you and the show). If you’re one of the lucky ones who gets pulled out of the audience, you’ll even become one of the stars. Move over Broadway, ’cause our productions are unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

STUMBLE THROUGH THE FREMONT STREET EXPERIENCE
A whole new meaning to “shock and awe,” the Fremont Street Experience is a lot different than you may remember it. This is the land of ultimate debauchery where the once glittery and glamorous meets the just plain weird. Lined with vintage hotels, restaurants and bars spanning the four-block corridor and covered by a giant digital screen, this downtown Las Vegas destination is the ultimate block party. There is a lot to do and see, including shopping at specialty kiosks, riding zip lines and watching free concerts and costumed buskers of various levels of sobriety.

BE A HIGH ROLLER
The High Roller in Las Vegas isn't your average Ferris wheel. There's nothing average about it. And it's not really a Ferris wheel; it's an observation wheel -- the biggest in the world at a staggering 550-feet-tall. Yes, you read that right: 550 feet. That's nine feet taller than the Singapore Flyer and 107 feet taller than the London Eye. It currently holds the Guinness World Record for largest observation wheel. With panoramic views of the Strip, the valley and the mountains, there’s something to see from every angle.

VISIT THE MOB (MUSEUM)
The one-of-a-kind, often terrifying Atomic Testing Museum pulls back the curtain on the Nevada Test Site and the state’s history as nuclear-weapons guinea pig. Downtown, organized-crime buffs will flip for the Mob Museum, which details the mafia’s involvement with Sin City’s rise. If you want a visual tour through Vegas history, head to the Neon Museum on the north end of the Strip, where signs, lights and other Sin City architectural artifacts are preserved. Aficionados of old-school arcade games should visit the peculiarly beautiful Pinball Hall of Fame, where you can admire—and play—more than 150 operational pinball machines.

SOAR HIGH ABOVE THE STRIP AT NIGHT
If the excitement on the ground isn't enough for you, buckle up and soar high above the strip in a helicopter! Get a birds-eye view of the world famous Las Vegas Strip, Fremont Experience, and Las Vegas Valley. Most helicopter tours operate a night and last between 8 and 15 minutes.